Ethics In Cook County

August 28, 1985|By Jeanne P. Quinn. Jeanne P. Quinn, an Oak Park resident, is a member of the Cook County Board.

There is an old adage that goes, ``You get what you pay for.`` But the author of that cliche apparently never thought about the relationship between taxes and Cook County government.

When taxes go up in Cook County, taxpayers might think they will get more service or better government for their money. The opposite is true, however, when elected officials give millions of dollars` worth of government contracts to businesses which have been big contributors to their political campaigns, or when politicians use their connections and official positions to arrange lucrative government contracts for their own law firms and private companies. The fact is, when politically-connected consulting businesses, law firms, bond houses, banks and construction firms line up to feed at the public trough, taxpayers not only get taken for a ride, they pay for it as well.

How do we stop the cronyism, the abuse of public trust, the waste of taxpayers` money?

Currently there is nothing on the county`s law books to prohibit the practices which have brought shame and embarrassment to the second largest county in the United States. There is no conflict-of-interest ordinance, no limit on campaign contributions from companies who do business with Cook County, no oversight on non-bid contracts.

It`s time that Cook County had a comprehensive ethics ordinance to govern the conduct of county officials and top employees. It`s time for an ethics ordinance that:

-- Prohibits elected officials, their families or their law or business partners from representing private interests in matters that directly involve their offices;

-- Bans officials and employees from voting or acting on matters when there is a conflict-of-interest;

-- Establishes an oversight board to review all major no-bid contracts and emergency purchases;

-- Limits campaign contributions from companies who do business with the county;

-- Requires more extensive financial disclosure by county officials;

-- Restricts lobbyist gift-giving.

For nearly three years on the Cook County Board, I`ve been asking questions about no-bid contracts, expensive consulting services and improper purchases that circumvent the rules. Now it`s time for an ethics ordinance that protects the taxpayer.